Poor throttle response.....why you little!!!

[BBS_mk3]

It's been a little while since I've posted, So I'll wish you all a good New Years Eve! I'm at work and it's dead quiet and boring but at least I've got time to write on the forum

Anyways the issue at hand: Despite the fact my poor 2L GL got flogged by the hail storm a couple of weeks ago I'm staying true and sticking with the old girl. So I want to fix a problem that's been hanging around......

Essentially the throttle response on my car is just pathetic. You have to be really gentle feeding in the power and when you're accelerating I often get a big lag before it starts to pick up (If only this was due to a big turbo!). My understanding is that this is due to a blocked/dirty throttle body which is apparently common to these cars. Has anyone got a DIY on how to address this? Is there a permanent solution? Does anyone know why this happens and how to prevent it in the future?

Thanks in advance guys

[99gti]

I dont want to ask this but I will just to clarify. When was the air filter last changed or cleaned?

[BBS_mk3]

Had a new OEM filter fitted about 15 to 20,000 kms ago (from memory) - car is serviced every 5,000kms. VW dealer in Waitara did clean the throttle body for me once previously and it seemed to improve the situation but it has reverted back to the original symptoms.....Very annoying especially since I take good care of the maintennance.

[h100vw]

Might be the potentiometer on the throttle body. You could check it by substitution or with an ohm-meter. VAG-COM can also do it through the OBD port.

Sometimes they get worn in one place which makes them intermittent.

[Golf Houso]

Or ... do what I did and alot of other forum members to fix the lethargic throttle response. Swiss cheese the airbox, or just cut out the side and remove that pathetic hose attached to the front of it. The throttle response is great, plus it makes a nice deep growl on the 2.0l. Even just a few small holes can make a difference as I discovered... before going ballistic hacking at it with a file and knife

[BBS_mk3]

Or ... do what I did and alot of other forum members to fix the lethargic throttle response. Swiss cheese the airbox, or just cut out the side and remove that pathetic hose attached to the front of it. The throttle response is great, plus it makes a nice deep growl on the 2.0l. Even just a few small holes can make a difference as I discovered... before going ballistic hacking at it with a file and knife

Yeah, I have thought of doing that in any case or at least to swap in a K&N panel filter instead of the stock OE one. But the problem isn't the normal sort of poor throttle response. I think I'll take into Seb to have a look at in mid Jan.....

[nvr_l8]

What type of fuel do you use? I was using Caltex Vortex for a while and the car ran like crap. Switched over to BP Ultimate and I haven't had a problem since.

[BBS_mk3]

I've tried all the premium fuels and for around the last six months I've been using BP Ulitmate, although I'm told that our cars don't take advantage of the extra octaine without an ecu remap??? I don't think it's a fueling problem though, if it is the symptoms probably point more towards the injectors but....I'm pretty sure it's a clogged up throttle body. I'll take it to a specialist an get it sorted I think.

Thanks for all the feedback guys

What type of fuel do you use? I was using Caltex Vortex for a while and the car ran like crap. Switched over to BP Ultimate and I haven't had a problem since.

[nvr_l8]

No worries. Don't spend too much unless they fix the problem. BTW, My brother has a Lancer MR and he was using Vortex and it was running slow. Changed to Ultimate and now no probs. I think Vortex has some water or other crap in it that dilutes it.